The pace of the game was frantic but the quality diped as Rovers began to misplace passes, making for a battle in the middle of the park.

Both sides struggled for fluidity, particularly once conditions took a turn for the worst with a horrendous downpour midway throught the half.

But Rovers continued to fashion the better of the chances.

Main fired a low effort from 30 yards that drew a rather unconvincing save from former Rovers keeper Ross Turnbull.

And the former Middlesbrough man missed another golden chance. He leapt to meet a cross from deep from Wellens but scuffed his volley attempt well wide.

It took Barnsley 40 minutes to register their first shot on target. And it was a simple save from Rovers debutant Stephen Bywater when Dale Jennings drilled a speculative effort from close to the left touchline.

Rovers continued the control on the game they established in the first half after the break but still could not find a way to beat Ross Turnbull

Main, guilty of profligacy in the first half, missed another excellent chance five minutes into the second period.

He did well to control a heavy Coppinger pass and find space for a shot but skewed it horribly wide from 15 yards.

And Coppinger himself should have done better on 55 minutes. Kyle Bennett nicked the ball from Dale Jennings, darted into the box and laid off to Coppinger who rushed a shot straight at Turnbull.

Chances for both sides were few and far between as the game moved into the later stages.

Bennett curled a free kick straight at Turnbull while at the other end Milan Lalkovic fired well over the bar after good work from Luke Berry.

Just when it seemed as though the game was set for a stalemate, Forrester struck.

He nicked the ball off Holgate’s toe and immediately carried it inside before looking up and curling a strike over Turnbull’s head and in at the far top corner.

Holgate ended the afternoon with even more woe after jumping in to challenge Wellens with referee Kevin Wright immediately showing a red card.